Gamma Rays in Radiotherapy
Gamma Rays in Radiotherapy
8B Lae Eun Kim
In this unit, we learned that there are 7 types of radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum – gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible spectrum, infrared, microwaves and radio waves. With different wavelengths, they each have different properties and uses. Gamma rays are the radiation with the smallest wavelengths – 10-12m to 10-10m – and the most energy and the most danger of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. Radiotherapy, a treatment the use of high-energy radiation, is the most well-known way of how gamma rays are used. Radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used ways of cancer treatment – almost half of all people with cancer have radiotherapy as part of their treatment plan. However, radiotherapy can also damage normal cells, leading to side effects such as nausea and hair loss. With its significance in the use of gamma rays, and its advantages and side effects caused by gamma rays, radiotherapy is significant and worthy of research.
First, let us look at why and how gamma rays are used in radiotherapy. There are 2 types of radiotherapy – external-beam radiotherapy and internal radiotherapy. Between these two, external-beam radiotherapy is what that involves gamma-ray. Usually external-beam radiotherapies are delivered using a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC), which creates and focuses high-energy radiation beams onto the area requiring treatment. The photo on the right is LINAC machine. External-beam radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used way of cancer treatment – four out of every ten cancer cures include radiotherapy as part of the treatment plan. The basic principle of radiotherapy is permanently damaging the DNA of cancer cells, causing them to die using high-energy radiation. When gamma rays interact with the molecules of the cells, positively charged particles transfer energy to molecules in cells. The transferred energy is high enough to disrupt chemical bonds, which results
8B Lae Eun Kim
In this unit, we learned that there are 7 types of radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum – gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible spectrum, infrared, microwaves and radio waves. With different wavelengths, they each have different properties and uses. Gamma rays are the radiation with the smallest wavelengths – 10-12m to 10-10m – and the most energy and the most danger of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. Radiotherapy, a treatment the use of high-energy radiation, is the most well-known way of how gamma rays are used. Radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used ways of cancer treatment – almost half of all people with cancer have radiotherapy as part of their treatment plan. However, radiotherapy can also damage normal cells, leading to side effects such as nausea and hair loss. With its significance in the use of gamma rays, and its advantages and side effects caused by gamma rays, radiotherapy is significant and worthy of research.
First, let us look at why and how gamma rays are used in radiotherapy. There are 2 types of radiotherapy – external-beam radiotherapy and internal radiotherapy. Between these two, external-beam radiotherapy is what that involves gamma-ray. Usually external-beam radiotherapies are delivered using a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC), which creates and focuses high-energy radiation beams onto the area requiring treatment. The photo on the right is LINAC machine. External-beam radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used way of cancer treatment – four out of every ten cancer cures include radiotherapy as part of the treatment plan. The basic principle of radiotherapy is permanently damaging the DNA of cancer cells, causing them to die using high-energy radiation. When gamma rays interact with the molecules of the cells, positively charged particles transfer energy to molecules in cells. The transferred energy is high enough to disrupt chemical bonds, which results